17

Question 1

distaff

Answer 1

adj. suitable for female

Question 2

aborning

Answer 2

adverb/ adj. while being born or produced [the idea died __]

Question 3

scintilla

Answer 3

n. a minute particle, trace // not a __ of remorse

Question 4

coiffure

Answer 4

n. a person’s hairstyle typically an elaborate one

Question 5

dearth

Answer 5

n. a scarcity or lack of something [there is a ___ of evidence]

Question 6

squaw

Answer 6

n. an american indian woman or wife (offensive)

Question 7

aplomb

Answer 7

n. assurance, confidence, nonchalance // Vickie spoke with __ to the large audience

Question 8

milieu

Answer 8

n. atmosphere, person’s social environment [he grew up in a military ____]

Question 9

hullabaloo

Answer 9

n. bedlam, brouhaha, chaos

Question 10

invective

Answer 10

n. berating, insulting, abusive highly critical language// The newspaper’s invective of the novel really made the author angry.

Question 11

placid

Answer 11

n. calmness; peace [the __ waters of a small lake]

Question 12

coterie

Answer 12

n. clique

Question 13

harangue

Answer 13

n. diatribe, tirade, rant, admonition [a ten minute __]

Question 14

efficacy

Answer 14

n. effective, ability to do what is desired

Question 15

menarche

Answer 15

n. first period

Question 16

falderal

Answer 16

n. foolishness, absurdity// all the falderal of the athletic contests and the cheerleaders makes me exhausted

Question 17

tutelage

Answer 17

n. guardianship

Question 18

brier

Answer 18

n. hillbilly, us. Appalachian

Question 19

dudgeon

Answer 19

n. intense indignation, anger, bitterness //In a fit of dudgeon, the boy destroyed everything his former best friend had given him.

Question 20

urchin

Answer 20

n. mischievous youngster, brat esp. one who is poorly or raggedly dressed.

Question 21

temerity

Answer 21

n. nerve, audacity

Question 22

effrontery

Answer 22

n. nerve, boldness [she had the ___ to ask for 2 free samples]

Question 23

teetotaler

Answer 23

n. non drinker

Question 24

claptrap

Answer 24

n. pretentious but insincere or empty language, an artifice for winning applause

Question 25

sinecure

Answer 25

n. sitting duck, easy target

Question 26

shirker

Answer 26

n. slacker

Question 27

anathema

Answer 27

n. something hated; strong curse [mutter ___]

Question 28

brio

Answer 28

n. vigor, vivacity of style

Question 29

tether

Answer 29

n./adj. a rope or chain, restrict movement

Question 30

reviled

Answer 30

v. admonish, criticize in abusive angry manner

Question 31

corrugate

Answer 31

v. contract into wrinkles or folds

Question 32

interdict

Answer 32

n/v. forbid, prohibit // an interdict against marriage of those of close kin; society will never interdict sex

Question 33

inculcate

Answer 33

v. instill by persistent instruction

Question 34

extol

Answer 34

v. praise enthusiastically

Question 35

remunerate

Answer 35

v. pay (someone) for services rendered or work done./ If you want Frank to build your deck, you will have to pay for lumber and give him remuneration for his time.

Question 36

vaticinate

Answer 36

v. to prophesy, to foretell

Question 37

octogenarian

Answer 37

adj. between 80-90 years old

Question 38

wistful

Answer 38

adj. daydreaming, longing, contemplative, forlorn

Question 39

inveterate

Answer 39

adj. established, habitual, lifelong // she is an ___ supporter

Question 40

protract

Answer 40

adj. long, prolong, drawn out// The committee voted to protract the discussions of an amendment to their mission statement.

Question 41

baleful

Answer 41

adj. menacing //Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction

Question 42

obsteperous

Answer 42

adj. noisy, clamorous, boisterous, unruly

Question 43

esotericism

Answer 43

adj. opinions or beliefs, ideas preserved or understood by a small group of those specially initiated, or of rare or unusual interest.

Question 44

filial

Answer 44

adj. relating to son/daughter; daughterly

Question 45

unctuous

Answer 45

adj. sycophantic, grovelling// he seemed anxious to please but not in an __ way

Question 46

facetious

Answer 46

adj. tongue in cheek, kidding

Question 47

protean

Answer 47

adj. versatile, multifaceted// the mark of a __ talent

Question 48

precipitate

Answer 48

adj./v. hasty; bring about // we don’t want to be __ and say something we ought not; the incident __d a crisis

Question 49

zero sum

Answer 49

adj. (of a game or situation) in which whatever is gained by one side is lost by the other. [altruism is not a __ game]

Question 50

coolie

Answer 50

n. OFFENSIVE unskilled laborer from Asia